Finally!

The anxious tears and nervous "what-if's" have come and gone. The "i'm getting a little bit excited fluttering belly butterflies" are here. Yes, the big event is less than 48 hours away, and I am actually looking forward to it.

As for a heel update, I did go to the doctor. I do have what I suspected which is plantar fasciitis and a heel spur. The doc said to walk the long distance would do no harm but would only make me miserable. This week, however, my heel has felt progressively better every day, so maybe by Saturday it will be in good shape. Of course the lortab 5 prescribed to me for race day should come in handy if I need it!

A special "thank you" is in order for those of you who offered up prayers for my heel and my anxiety! I so appreciate it. More importantly, however, is a most grateful "thank You" which is in order for the Hearer of your prayers! Amen and Amen!

The race is set to begin at 7 am CST on Saturday. They release the first corral of runners at 7 am and continue to release each consecutive corral every 1.5 to 2 minutes. I figure I will be starting around 8 am as I am in corral 35. I don't know exactly how it will work, but for any friends and family who wish to do so, there is a live webcast of the race (maybe the finish line) HERE. My race number is 31176.

Can you believe that? There are more than 31,000 participants in this event! Whoa!

This will be my last post until at least Monday, but I will try to send important updates to Twitter (I feel so cool...Twitter...HA!). You can read my Twitter updates at the top right of my blog if you want!

Wish me luck!

I just want to finish.

Not last.

Some of you have emailed me asking about little baby Stellan who I mentioned in an earlier post. In case you don't remember, he is the little fellow I requested prayer for...I've been reading his Mom's blog for several months (I don't know this family...just read the blog). He had a "fatal" heart condition while in the womb, but was born with no apparent signs of heart problems. Now he is about 5 months old and the problems have reappeared. Now, he has been transferred to a hospital in Boston. He was scheduled to have a risky heart surgery tomorrow morning, but I just read his Mom's blog, and it seems they may do the surgery tonight.

Go ahead and save THIS website in your favorites...she updates daily, sometimes multiple times per day. I promise you will get attached to this family, and from reading her blog, I know they covet your prayers....

This is one of those posts.

It's one of those posts that cause me to feel sorry for you, the reader. Seriously. It's hard for me to believe you would spend your time reading my ramblings. Don't misunderstand....I'm thankful that you do...but it beats the "heck-far" out of me as to why you keep coming back.

I suppose that's the good thing about a blog (which is short for "web log", just in case you ever wondered!)- the blogger can write and ramble all she wants, and people can read as much or as little as they choose to read. The blogger can use proper grammar if she chooses, or she can write like there ain't no such thang as good English. The blogger can be as transparent as she wants to be. She can even go back and delete the post if she regrets ever putting it out there.

Anyway...back to my thoughts for today...

I don't know why I'm making this such a big deal. The race, that is. And my heel.

I've encountered greater stressors than this race and an aching heel. For example, one time I was walking my faithful friend Barclay in my neighborhood when I lived in Scottsboro, when suddenly a big, mean, yellow dog came running out of nowhere and started attacking my Barclay. I thought my heart would surely stop. I'm terrified of big, mean yellow dogs, and I was afraid he would kill Barclay then start on me. Somehow, I scraped up the courage, rared back, and kicked that hateful dog in the ribs with as much strength as I could muster. My Number 9 did the trick. Big mean yellow dog went on his merry way.

Yes, I've had a few stressors. I broke up a cat-fight here at TWH not too long ago. I'll spare you the details, but imagine the craziest Jerry Springer episode possible. Jerry Springer has professional bouncers with big muscles to handle such situations (not that I watch the show or anything, I just notice occasionally as I surf the channels...ahem, ahem...). I'm working out at the gym now and all, but I ain't got no big arm muscles. Nevertheless, I came through the stress just fine I suppose.

Stressor: Doc calls the house and says "Is there someone there with you? I need to talk to you."

There have been other stressors that I don't even care to write about tonight. I try to think "If I can make it through that, then I surely can make it through this race, for Heaven's sake."

It's like I'm really, really scared, but I don't really know why I am scared. I looked at some race videos on youtube tonight, and guess what...Yep! You guessed it! I started crying!!!

What?

Seriously?

For real?

Crying?

Yes, the tears-running-down-my-face kind of crying where you get that funny feeling in your nose right before it starts.

Gimme a break!

What am I so afraid of with this dumb race?

Afraid of the pain?
Afraid that I've not trained enough, especially here at the end?
Afraid of the hills on the course?
Afraid of not finishing?
Afraid of finishing last?
Afraid of disappointing someone if the Doc tells me to stay home? (Got a doc's appointment Wed about this heel problem).

How negative my thinking is.

Sounds like that familiar sin-problem of pride to me. Like...

...I shouldn't have to experience pain...
...I shouldn't have to work so hard for so long to get ready for a single event...
...I'm too good to be last...
...I'm too good to let him think bad of me...

Ugh. How irrational!

This is what I must remember (this is in the good ole KJV, which is handy here on my desk, but I know that I like the NIV better...):

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for our weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (II Corintians 10:4-5)

These irrational fears (what if I finish last....what if I disappoint someone...what if...what if...what if...) are strong holds in my mind. They are taking the focus away from Christ and His control of my life.

What then, is my weapon? It's bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Here are the truths which can combat the irrational fears that are taking root in my mind and heart...

• When I humble myself under His almighty hand, in due time He will lift me up. (Be gone, pride!)
• Apart from Him, I can do nothing. With Him, all things are possible. (Be gone, fear of failure!)
• He has loved me with an everlasting love! Only His opinion matters! (Be gone, fear of disappointing others!)

If I participate, I participate. If I don't, I don't. All I know to do right now is listen to the doctor.

And if I do participate (which I'm thinking I will...)

...If I finish, I finish. If I don't, I don't.

If I finish last. So what?

Whew-wee.

I feel better now.

Goodnight everyone.

Empty Nest

My little baby birds flew away today.

Erica and baby Aubriana moved today to be near the baby's family. I miss them already. That just goes with the territory, I suppose.

Erica has already sent text messages to keep me posted. They got there safely and all is good.

Yes, they were our only residents here at TWH, so that means I am alone in this big ole house. I plan to use this time without girls to have a deep Spring cleaning.

Barclay and Gilbert are begging to come in and sleep with me so I won't get lonely.

I told them no.

....sigh....

Goodnight, everybody!

My heel hurts.....

...and its 12 days before my "big race" in Nashville. 13.1 miles, I believe it is.

My heel hurts pretty bad. Remember...I was in the band. I'm a musician. I've never been an athlete, so I'm not used to this sort of thing...pain. Ugh!

It seems that I've got myself a good case of plantar fasciitis. That's the big word for "my heel hurts because I've been putting a lot of weight and pressure on it." To treat this plantar fasciitis, I've been stretching it, and icing it, and resting it. I've swallowed more ibuprophen than I know.

...sooooo....

I'm asking all my peeps out there the say a prayer for my heel when you pray. I really, really, really want to do this race and finish!

***04/14 Update...my heel has felt a little better today. Please keep praying! I'm shooting for a good long walk in the morning- the last long walk before the race! Nite!

an Easter baptism...

We had a baptism service this Easter afternoon for my friend Garry. It was a beautiful and most appropriate day for the baptism!

the Hope in Easter

"Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:1-3

Fat Albert Easter!

Do they make cartoons like this anymore?

I think somebody could make a Sunday school lesson out of this one! Can you see sin, forgiveness, and redemption?

Wow, Bill!

Good job!

Baby BamaSlammer!

I have a good friend named BamaSlammer (a.k.a. "Shay") who lives somewhere in south Georgia. She is home in Alabama for Easter and to introduce her new little Baby BamaSlammer (a.k.a. "Ava Kate").

I had the best time today visiting with BamaSlammer and baby. Thought I would share some baby pics, but I promised Mommy that her image would not be posted!

What a cutie! She's a little Tweety Bird with her great big eyes!!!

I Love You, Baby BamaSlammer!!!

Good...

...somehow "good" doesn't seem adequate for a Friday like this. It just seems sort of plain to me...."good".

This day memorializes a most special day.

A pivotal day for all mankind.

A very dark day.

A day of grieving in Heaven.

On this day we remember a crossroads of sorts where the justice of God intersected with the sinfulness of man, the sinfulness of me.

On a cross.

Instead of me.

It's breathtaking.

It's numbing.

But good? I just think there should be a better, more descriptive word for this Friday.

...oh yes, I remember now...

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord."

Jesus seemed to like the term "good".

"I am the Good Shepherd; the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep....I am the Good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine...I lay down my life for the sheep."

He is Good.

Oh, thank you Jesus.

Yes, oh yes, You are good.

And I...

I am not.

Only grateful.

The Icing of the Tulips

I heard talk of snow.

I didn't listen.

I didn't buy milk.

I woke up surprised.

Awwww!

I hope the pretty tulips pull through.

April 7.

In the Deep South.

Global warming?

Anyone?

Anyone?

:)

Little Stellan

Blogging is a weird thing.

It's weird because it's possible to become mentally and emotionally involved in the lives of people, real people with real lives, that you have never met, never laid eyes on, and may not even know where in the world they live. But they become important to you all the same.

For months I've been following the blog of a lady who calls herself MckMama as she writes about her husband Prince Charming and her children Big Mac, MckNugget, Small Fry, and MckMuffin.

I began following her blog long before MckMuffin (a.k.a. Stellan) was born when she and hundreds of other bloggers were praying for a miracle for MckMuffin. See, before he was born, doctors said he would never survive the womb due to fatal heart problems.

Not only did MckMuffin survive the womb, he was born with no signs of a heart condition.

Sadly, MckMuffin is back in the hospital and is not doing well. I believe he is about 5 months old now.

Please say a prayer for this sweet baby and his family. Only God knows what the future holds for them...

Here's what I'm thinking lately...

None of it really matters.

The little irritations that stress us out don't amount to a hill of beans.

Look around you at all the stuff. Someday it will all just burn.

What He cares about is the condition of our hearts. Do we love Him? Do we seek to obey his Commandments? And how do we even know His commandments if we don't read His Word?
Do we love others?

Isn't that what it boils down to...loving Christ? Obeying Him? Loving others?

Simple as that.

Sometimes it doesn't feel so simple, but my feelings are generally selfish, so perhaps I shouldn't live life based upon my feelings.

In my arrogance disguised as false-humility, I used to think it selfish to dwell on Heaven. Then some people that I love went to Heaven. Things changed.

Now I know. Heaven is why He came in the first place...For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Heaven is the hope given to us by our Hope.

How hard would this life be without the hope of Heaven? What if this (although my this is very good) were all there is? How brief, how treacherous, how dead life would be without the hope of Heaven.

So, yes, if He calls me today I would be so embarrassed that my closet looks like it has thrown up on itself, and somebody will have to deal with the mess. My closet is on my nerves, but in the big scheme of things, it doesn't matter.

What does matter is, if He calls me today, I'm ready.

Come, Lord Jesus!

The Winning HoneyBee!!!

My favorite HoneyBee guessed the baby's weight exactly...8lbs 12 oz!!!

Good Job, girl!!!

Be watching for you SURPRISE!!!

Ooooo! Aaaaaaaah! Right?

She's home...

We brought sweet Aubriana home yesterday around noon. She didn't get a chance to get a good look at the place yet because she can't seem to keep her eyes open! All the excitement of the last few days has just left her pooped.

Except for when she's pooping, that is...

Don't forget to enter THE CONTEST! You have until 6p.m. tomorrow to leave your guess of baby's birthweight. CLICK HERE TO ENTER! The guess who gets closest without going over wins a special prize! OOOO! Aaaaaa! Right?

Dear Adrian...

Dear Adrian,

HI! Do you remember me? It's me...Katie. When I was really, really sweet, you would sometimes call me K.K. When I was especially smart and talented, some people called me Katie Couric. You will testify on my behalf, right? Will you please tell everyone that I used to be sweet. Back when I was a little, bitty Kitty, I was sweet...right?

I remember when you and I first met. Back in 1996, Theia had graduated from Auburn and had decided to spend the summer there working before starting grad school in the fall. I came to live with you and Theia in your apartment there...Genelda Place, remember?

Genelda Place. Now, that brings back some memories. Remember our cute neighbor Andy and his girlfriend Lara? We never could figure out how those two got together, could we? Remember when Craig and Eric brought you some magazines? And the mouse. That stupid mouse was in the fluorescent light fixture that night....you called Eric and Craig. Eric screamed like a girl. Oh good grief!

But then you moved away to finish your clinicals for pharmacy school.

...sigh...

Theia and I moved to a trailer at Dawson Park way down off of Wire Road. At first, it was just great. I used to help Theia study. She would spread her books and notebooks out on the floor so that I could lay on top of them for her. She used to really love when I would do that for her.

You finally came back to live with us. Oh, I had missed you sooooooooo bad when you were away. Remember that game you and I used to play? I would hide under you bed, and when you walked by, I would jump out and grab your feet. You would scream and I would dart out of the room like a bullet! Oh! Those were the good ole days, huh?

Oh, Dawson Park...yes, I think that's where my troubles all started. Remember our weird neighbor? The parole officer? He wasn't too weird, I don't suppose. But all those white cats he had. They were all over the place! How many were there...5...6...9? I can't remember! But they were HUGE. And some of them had had skin cancer (bless their hearts) and had their ears clipped off. Those cats gave me anxiety, and generally put me in a bad mood.

Another thing that put me in a bad mood...when Theia refused to sing my favorite songs to me. I used to love to crawl up in her arms and meow, meow, meow. I loved when she would sing that "A-B-C-D-E-F-G" song and the "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine..." But then she would cut loose in a song about Jesus loving me...for some reason that song hurt my ears. I would slap my Mommy and tell her to stop it. Everytime, she just told me I needed to get saved. That just put me in a really, really bad mood.

I've been in a bad mood ever since.

Theia finally graduated and we moved home to Sand Mountain.

Grandmother and Pepaw hated cats. They hated me, too. I don't know why, really. Beats the heck-far out of me. I don't know what their problem was. I mean, I'm nice. I'm pretty. I'm fluffy and gray. I told them they could still live in the house as long as they understood who was the boss. They just could not understand that I was the Queen.

One day, Pepaw tried to make me get out of the house. I said you crazy, man! He really was crazy...he got this big broom-thing and started swatting at me. I said to him keep hitting at me, and you'll be sorry! He kept on swatting at me. Stop it, man! I'm not kidding! Pepaw kept on being crazy with that broom! That's it man! You have crossed the line! I'm outta here! Now what you gonna do without me?

Uncle Jack had been begging and pleading for me to come take charge of his farm. He had all these dogs and goats and fish and ducks. You should see that farm now...I've really got it all whipped into shape! I don't know what Uncle Jack ever did without me.

I'm still in a bad mood, though. But I just can't help it. People insist on walking by me when I haven't summoned them to my presence. Haven't they any manners? Don't they know they should not speak unless I have spoken to them?

And get this...sometimes they call me "The devil-cat".... whatever! I'd just like to know where they got their information!

Anyway, if you are ever in South DeKalb county, come see me. Consider yourself officially summoned!

Your Old Friend,

Katie

P.S. I hope you like the pictures I am sending to you. I might be 13 years old, but I still got it goin' on girl!

Thank Heaven for Baby Girls!

Aubrianna Kailee made her debut today @ 5:30 p.m. Her mommy, Erica, is doing just fine. Baby needed some IV antibiotics, but seems to be doing great.

To celebrate Aubrianna's birthday, we're having a contest!

Please leave a comment with your guess of this little angel's weight. The person who guesses the closest without going over will win a special prize! Ooooo! Ahhhhh!

*Friends and family who have already heard the weight are automatically disqualified! Sorry! Contest ends March 26 @ 6 p.m.!

Cup O'Tea, Anyone?

Even I know this is just wrong.

It calls for a tea party of sorts. A Boston-style tea party, to be clear.

The $800 billion stimulus bill unnerved me from the beginning. Remember this?

I knew it. I just knew it. It seems that my suspicions were right on...the very ones passing the bill had not even read the thing. Oh brother.... HERE is a nice quote to file away.

QUESTION: What now?

CURRENT ANSWER from Washington? H.R. 1586. Nice, Clark. Real nice.

I have just a a few thoughts on this matter....

• Seriously? You are a congressman. If your job is to do anything, it's to pass laws. You didn't have time to read it? C'mon man... Priorities, people! Priorities!
• I'm not rich, but I don't hate rich people. Why is everybody getting so mad at the AIG executives who received the bonuses? They're human just like you and me, right? It would take a person of exceptional character to refuse a bonus for the good of others. According to the letter of the law, evidently the bonuses were legal. The government who passed the bill is what's wacko in this instance. Perhaps if the company was in dire shape, the bonuses should have never been promised to begin with, and maybe past years of absurd executive bonuses are precisely what crumbled the company to begin with, but that's a mute point today.
• 90%??? What? If the government allows a certain people group to be taxed at this rate, what keeps them from taxing me at this rate? No circumstances should call for 90% taxation. This is just asinine to me! Is there something I'm missing here? Somebody, please correct me if I'm missing a big point in this matter!

And here's another thing...

Regarding the uproar over the President and his "Special Olympics" comment on Leno. Who gives a flip? A little politically incorrect? Yes. He wasn't making fun of disabled people, he was making fun of himself, which I have to admire just a bit. But who cares anyway? Lighten up, people! It's a late night talk show, for Heaven's sake. Of course, had President George W. Bush said the same thing, Michael Moore would already be making a movie about it...

Oh! But wait! A late night talk show. Our nation is on the verge of the worst economic climate since the Great Depression, and the President is on Leno discussing bowling? Reminds me of a lecture I heard back in Western Civilization class when Marie-Antoinette said, in response to the news that her French subjects had no bread to eat, "Let them eat cake."

...Sigh...

Cake...

Oh yes, perhaps we can have teacakes at our tea party.

Something's gotta give, and I'm afraid it's going to be you and me giving more and more...

Breathtaking!

Yesterday afternoon I enjoyed an afternoon outing with Erica, my friend Sonya, and her little girl Ashley. We visited Little River Canyon and DeSoto Falls. The weather was perfect!

The scenery was almost unfathomable!

Breathtaking!

It's hard to comprehend that a person could see the beauty of God's creation and still not believe...

Biggest Loser Night

I love Tuesdays. It's "The Biggest Loser" Night. I love it! I love it! I love it!

I love it like I love Reese's Cups!

What? Did I say that?

Once I remember Jillian the Trainer telling one of the Biggest Loser contestants that there's no stopping unless you are fainting of puking. Well, I had moment at the gym early this morning that would make Jillian proud...and I didn't faint. Catch my drift?

Yuk.

Embarrassing. Totally.

Don't worry! I'm feeling fine now.

By the way, The Family officially has another blogger! First it was me, then it was CUZ, now....check THIS out! I'm diggin' this one too!

Aunt Kathy...what are you waiting on?

A little Erica update...stay tuned. We have an appointment at 2:20 today.

****UPDATE: "When the apple is ripe, it will fall off the tree" said the DOC. We go back to see him again on Monday afternoon...

Oh Boy! Oh Boy! Oh Boy! (...or girl...)

Erica's getting that look on her face. We're going to see Dr. Coulter today at 1p.m.!!!

I think this calls for a CONTEST!!!

...stay tuned...

***UPDATE: Dr. Coulter was delivering babies today, so we only saw the NP. We have another appointment to see Dr. Coulter tomorrow afternoon...

I read THIS on the Fox News website today and thought it interesting.

La la la la la laaaaaaaaaaa....

What in the world???

Had lunch with my good friend Marie *** today. After a brief lull in conversation over our "beans and greens" at Cracker Barrel, she says to me "I heard this story on the radio yesterday about this one-eyed Canadian film maker."

One-eyed film maker??? I just cracked up, as did she! Just the fact that we both found that concept funny...I'm sorry ya'll.

What.In.The.World???

HERE is the story.

Little bit creepy if you ask me!

***Marie is getting good reports from her recent bout with cancer. She's really quite exhausted, but preliminary tests are very positive. Great News!!!

Pray 4 Dustin

Please pray for Dustin Lewis, a young man from Pisgah who recently had a motor cycle accident. He is in the hospital at Erlanger in Chattanooga. You can read his story HERE...you can even register to receive email notifications when his website has been updated with his progress.

I don't know Dustin very well. I just remember watching him play basketball for Pisgah where he was a fantastic athlete. I know he is very much loved by many people.

Just a few random thoughts of what I'm thinking lately...

Wednesday has come and gone and the time change is kicking my butt. Is it okay to write that on a "Christian" blog???? Sorry kids. That's just the way it is.

To make matters worse, I'm going through this weird insomnia-thing where I keep waking up during the night to check the clock...fearful that I have overslept. How frustrating! Dont't know what's up with that!

When the girls here at the house complain of not being able to sleep, I smugly tell them that God is preparing them to have an infant, that their bodies are gearing up for sleep deprivation. Oh my, we are expecting a baby any day now, and I hope He's not preparing me for sleep deprivation. That's totally not cool.

The doctor was originally planning to put Erica in the hospital this Friday, but after her check-up today, he has decided to wait another week. Sigh... It's a girl, and we feel like we've been waiting on her for at least eleven months.

A little side note about Erica...she's doing really good. She hasn't missed a day of work her entire pregnancy. She's half-way through her first semester at Northeast. Saving money to buy a car...buy, yes buy....not finance. I'm really proud of her.

A few weeks ago, we had 4 girls in the house, but now we are down to just one. Kiara achieved her goals for being here and went back to her family. Since then, two other girls have made the choice to leave the house. I'm a little sad about it, because I know they are making choices to return to difficult circumstances in a hard world. Sometimes I question if we are doing something wrong here or if we are missing a mark somehow, but I've come to the conclusion that the we would be doing our residents more harm than good if we allowed them behave "any ole way". Because we love them, we set difficult yet reasonable and achievable standards for our residents, and unfortunately, not all of them are up for the challenge.

...because we love them... It seems that love, God's way, has been popping up in my life every way I turn lately. 2 Commandments: Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind and Love your neighbor as yourself. If we love Him, we will keep his commandments. Love is patient, kind, does not envy. Keeps no record of wrongs. Rejoices in the truth. Christ loved the rich young ruler enough to tell him the truth.

God's definition of love is difficult for me to get my mind around sometimes. It's even more difficult to line my actions up with His standard, but I believe it can be done...we should at least give it all we've got to love as He commands us to love. He gave everything for us...

Soooooo...on a more serious note....

Saturday I am registered to walk in a St. Patrick's Day 5K in South Pittsburg, TN. It benefits a food bank and a Christian Women's Job Corp. If it's yukky weather, I'm not going. Sorry kids, that's just the way it is.

Oh, yes...I almost forgot. My cousin Chris who was a guest writer on my blog recently has apparently started his own blog. Check it out HERE. I'm diggin' it personally! Please leave comments on his blog if you enjoy reading it. Comments help.

I'm fine with all the Lurkers who Read My Thoughts, but please don't do CUZ that way! He deserves better!

In the words of my good friend, new-mommy-of-baby-Ava-Kate, and the all-time best Whitney Houston impersonator, a.k.a., BamaSlammer,... This is my blog for the day...